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“I think the Texas A&M game my senior year was a lot of fun,” said Taylor. “That was one of two times I got to win in a two minute drive.”

Nebraska clinched the Big 12 North title with that win, and broke both the all-time career passing record and the single-season touchdown pass record.

“I also look back at my junior year when we beat Colorado,” said Taylor. “That was a really exciting game and at the time, we thought it was a turning point for our program.”

It was a program with ups and downs in the 2000’s, the Bill Callahan Era. But in just two seasons, Zac Taylor made a name for himself at Nebraska. By the time his college playing days were over, he was named the 2006 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. Taylor still holds several individual offensive records in passing at Nebraska.

His drive off the field transformed the college athlete into an NFL assistant coach.

“Right now, I'm coaching the quarterbacks at the Miami Dolphins,” said Taylor. “I think it helps having played the position. I do think they look at you and know you've been in the pocket before and seen the same thing they've seen.”

Now entering his third season in the NFL, Taylor still follows Nebraska, watching from hotels on Saturdays whenever the Dolphins are on the road. Nebraska is also where he met his wife, Sarah, then a grad assistant with media relations who came to Taylor’s first ever practice at the University.

“She would come to practice, after practice, and grab players for interviews,” said Taylor.

The Taylors and their two sons proudly support the Huskers.

“I think Coach Pelini is doing a great job,” said Taylor. “I enjoy watching the team play and I know the expectations are high for them this year. I think that the team plays really hard. Coach Pelini is a great players’ coach, the players really enjoy playing for him.”

Taylor has seen that first hand, while working as an assistant coach for Texas A&M University shortly after he graduated from Nebraska.

“We played [Nebraska],” said Taylor. “It was one of the most disciplined, toughest defenses we faced.”

Taylor has a message for the Huskers.

“Soak up every moment and embrace the fans,” said Taylor. “I think back and wish I could’ve traveled the state a little bit more. It truly is a great thing to play for all of those people. I wish I would've been able to meet more people and just travel out in the state and get more opportunities to affect more people.”